Castle of Cans Returns to Oktoberfest
Students from twelve area schools- elementary through college- are beginning to collect cans of food for the eleventh annual Castle of Cans Food Drive, a part of Hickory’s Oktoberfest celebration October 9 – 11.
Students will collect food for area food pantries and soup kitchens.
After Oktoberfest, the food will be distributed to The Corner Table of Newton, Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministries (ECCCM), Exodus Homes, The Family Care Center, Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry (CCM), The Hickory Soup Kitchen and The Salvation Army.
Participating schools are Startown Elementary, H. M. Arndt Middle, Grandview Middle, Maiden Middle, Northview Middle, Bandys High, Fred T. Foard High, Hickory High, Maiden High, St. Stephens High, Catawba Valley Community College and Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Boy Scout Troop 903 will use the cans to construct a “castle of cans” in the Kidsfest area on Saturday morning, October 10. United Beverage will provide flats to help in the construction of the castle. On Sunday afternoon, residents of Flynn Christian Home will dismantle the castle and load the food unto trucks.
Papa John’s Pizza and Chic-fil-A provide rewards and incentives for the students who bring in the most cans of food. Second Harvest Food Bank provides transportation, which includes providing boxes and bins, collecting the food, and storing it at their facility before and after the castle is built.
Last year over ten tons of food was collected, but with the current state of the economy, more help is needed. Food pantries and soup kitchens are running low on food. The soup kitchens have reported that they are serving over twice as many meals as in the past and the food pantries are experiencing the same increase.
Members of the community are asked to participate by placing canned food in bins at Catawba County Food Lion stores or bringing cans to the site on Saturday, October 10 or 11.
All types of canned food are needed. Cans with pop-tops are suggested for the homeless and the large #10-size cans found in most grocery stores are used by the two soup kitchens.
The castle serves as a visible symbol of the community’s concern with hunger. Please help fight hunger in Catawba County by helping to build a Castle of Cans- A Castle of Caring.
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